The first Pakistani coronavirus affected and recovered person Yahya Jaffery has donated plasma for the possible treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Addressing a press briefing at Children’s Hospital Karachi with Jaffery and his mother and father, haematologist Dr Saqib Ansari requested the federal government to allow using plasma for coronavirus treatment, claiming that it could help save lives of these affected by the COVID-19.

“We need no funds, new machinery or workforce as Children’s Hospital Karachi is ready to offer its services free of cost,” he maintained, including that his team was fighting the pandemic on three fronts: identifying patients, treating them and controlling the panic in society.

He additionally mentioned that the hospital was collaborating with Houston Methodist Hospital within the United States in this regard.

Talking about latest medical advances, Dr Ansari mentioned that the plasma of recovered coronavirus patients was being utilized in several parts of the developed world, whereas clinical trials are also being performed for the purpose. He maintained that plasma infusion in critical COVID-19 patients had yielded wonderful results in other countries.

According to him, plasma therapy was only being applied to critically ill patients, whereas around 90 per cent of coronavirus patients recovered with out being admitted to intensive care units.

Dr Saqib Ansari called Yahya Jaffery a hero for the nation, he appealed to other recovered patients for blood donation. He mentioned that recovered patients between the ages of 18 and 50 could safely donate; however, due to chances of complications, plasma is not often taken from females.

Dr Ansari claimed that the hospital had the capability to obtain plasma from all recovered patients in Pakistan. He added that the required procedures might be carried out by machines used for the treatment of dengue patients, which are already present in many hospitals.

Meanwhile, Jaffery, addressing the press conference, said optimistically, “In the near future, the virus will become history and all that will be remembered is our resolve and determination.”